Museums, Palaces, Sanctuaries: What To See And Do En Route Mysore From Banglore

Planning a road trip to Mysore? Then, it may be a wise idea to also chalk out what you’ll be doing on your way to {or from} the city. Since the Bangalore-Mysore highway is one of the busiest routes there are plenty of attractions from museums and eateries to rock climbing and an amusement park. And while you can’t cover all of these in a day, you surely pack in a few if you leave early enough. LBB shows how you can make the most of your trip to Mysore.

Start off your trip on a thrilling note at Ramanagaram. Swing by for treks, rock climbing, and rappelling. While the slopes are slippery and tricky in many parts, trekking on your own shouldn’t be too much trouble. However, for rocking climbing and rappelling bit you can sign up with the likes of Thrillophilia. Too much action? Skip trekking and just strut about Ramanagaram like Gabbar Singh did in Sholay, with your swag intact.

Since 1994, Janapada Loka has showcased Karnataka’s rich folk history. Arrive here early {they open their gates at 9am} so that you can make the most of your trip and also to avoid crowds. Explore the various wings that introduces you to rural arts and life. Don’t miss the Folk Arts Museum that displays everything from musical instruments to shadow puppet dolls that are over 500 years old. The Loka Mahal wing is also stacked with over 5,000 artefacts that are are worth browsing through.

One of Karnataka’s best known traditional craft hubs, Channapatna is worth peeking into. All around the town {including the highway}, you will find stores of varying sizes selling the colourful, wooden dolls and toys along with the lacquerware. If you’ve grown up with toys from here, this promises to be one heck of a nostalgia trip. It may be a great idea to pack up a few souvenirs from here since the toys are better priced than the ones you’ll find back home.

Less than 20 kms from Mysore, is this birdie paradise that’s worth visiting. While the best time to visit is between July and November, you can drop by Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary and you are unlikely to be disappointed. You can take boat rides around the calm waters of the Cauvery to discover flocks of painted storks, black-headed ibises, Oriental darters, stork-billed kingfishers and many other winged beauties. Do note that the waters are inhabited with crocodiles, so better to be safe than sorry. Also, the sanctuary has plenty of space where you can sit around and enjoy a packed picnic.

As we said before, this is one of the busiest routes and passersby zip up and down this arterial road all day long. So, it’s little surprise that you’ll find plenty of choice in food along the highway. While the dhabas are pointedly missing, there are other worthy contenders. If you prefer a chilled out cafe experience where you can while away your time before hitting the road again, Rasta Cafe is a great choice. Travelling with a pet? They’ll welcome your four-legged friend too!

For rustic Karnataka offerings, try the ever-crowded Kamat Lokaruchi. At breakfast time, you’ll have to put up with a 20 minute wait at least. Malgudi Vattika, that’s located near the Wonderla gate, is also popular. The highway also has its share of Cafe Coffee Days and McDonald’s if you are interested.

Love history and architecture? Then, don’t simply zoom past Srirangapatna. A significant place during the Vijayanagar Empire and the reign of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, Srirangapatna is fascinating to say the least. You can drive by abandoned forts and the ruins of palaces {the main palace here was burnt down during the filming of Sanjay Khan’s The Sword of The Tipu Sultan}. But Daria Daulat, another one of Tipu’s palaces, the warrior’s mausoleum, and significant fortifications still stand. You can also pay a visit to the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, that is believed to have been built between the 9th and 10th centuries,  to gaze at its intricate stone carvings and detailed stonework.

Known locally as Dodda Aladha Mara {or Big Banyan Tree}, this spot is perfect for a quick visit. The enormous tree occupies around 3 acres and its countless roots form a cascade all around you. The Big Banyan Tree is over 400 years old and you can rest in its shade for a while {they have built benches all around}. However, don’t bother bringing any food or beverage out while you are here. A monkey is sure to swoop in and snatch it from you.

The powerful gushing waters of the Shivanasamudra Falls are truly a sight to behold. If you are in a tearing hurry, you can stand at the top of the deep ravine and watch the waters thrashing down with a roar. If time is on your side, make your way down to the water pool at the base and enjoy a splash. Do note that the climb, back to the top, is rather steep and can knock the breath out of you. They also don’t offer any rooms to change around here so you’ll probably have to arrive in Mysore all wet and cold.

Feeling peckish? Then, drive into Maddur to munch on their famous vadas. The most famous restaurant here is Maddur Tiffany’s. We recommend that you order up a tumbler of filter kaapi and enjoy it with the crisp vadas {they are made with rice flour, semolina, and maida that mixed in with slivers of onion and spices before being deep-fried}.